NIK KERSHAW has recorded a new track with Frou Frou singer Imogen Heap producing - her debut production job. Nik, who has in the past produced material for Imogen Heap, has recorded the song for his forthcoming compilation album featuring the best of his catalogue recordings alongside a number of new tracks.
NEW ORDER's classic single 'Bizarre Love Triangle' has been remixed by The Crystal Method and is included on their new album of remixes 'CS2 Mix'. The remix will also be released as a vinyl only 12" single in the USA.
CULTURE CLUB, HUE & CRY and LEVEL 42 will all have live CDs released by River Records in May as part of the ongoing 'River Sessions' series. The ten-track Culture Club release was recorded in 1982, the Level 42 double CD features fifteen tracks recorded in 1983 and the double-CD Hue & Cry set features twenty-three tracks from 1987.
GO WESTwill play a free show as part of King's Lynn's Too Festival on July 22nd. The band have also confirmed the biggest show of their 20th Anniversary tour at Corby's Rockingham Race Track on May 1st where they will be supported by former Take That star Mark Owen.
SUZANNE VEGA is the subject of a DVD documentary 'Some Journey' which is due for release later this year. The 108-minute documentary will feature live and offstage footage alongside interviews with BRYAN ADAMS, PETER GABRIEL, TALKING HEADS and THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. A seperate DVD 'Retrospective: The Videos' will be released in May.
BOY MEETS GIRL's 'Waiting For A Star To Fall' has been sampled for another dance rcord - the THIRD this year - from up and coming artist Mylo who mixes the pop classic with KIM CARNES' 'Bette Davis Eyes'.
BAUHAUS frontman PETER MURPHY will release a new album 'Unshattered' via Artful on May 9th.
MIDGE URE, CURIOSITY KILLED THE CAT and NICK HEYWARD will all be appearing at a special outdoor show 'Live For One Night Only - The Best Of The 80s' on September 17th. The show will take place at Fontwell Park Race Track between Chichester and Arundel in Sussex and is being organised by Capital Radio's Ocean FM with a percentage of ticket sales going to charity.
DEPECHE MODE have started work on their new album, the follow up to 2001's 'Exciter'. The band are in the studio in Santa Barbara with producer Ben Hillier working on the album which is being tentatively lined-up for an autumn release.
GEORGE MICHAEL, CATHY DENNIS, U2, BOB GELDOF and MIDGE URE are among the nominees for wawrds at this years prestigious Ivor Novello Awards which take place in London on May 26th. George Michael's 'Amazing' is nominated for most performed song along with the Cathy Dennis written 'Toxic' performed by Britney Spears. U2's 'Vertigo' is up against Bob Geldof and Midge Ure's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' as International Hit Of The Year with 'Do They Know It's Christmas?' receiving an additional nomination as best selling UK single.
ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN have been added to the bill for the forthcoming Glastonbury Festival which takes place in the UK between June 24-26. The Bunnymen join a confirmed bill that also incudes sets from KYLIE MINOGUE, NEW ORDER, ELVIS COSTELLO, VAN MORRISON and THE UNDERTONES.
SONIA has lined up a short tour of some of the UK's Jumpin Jaks' nightclubs on a bill with boyband 911.
BANANARAMA have announced on their official website that they will release their much anticipated new single in July with their new album to follow... in the meantime the Solasso Vs Bananarama remix single 'Really Saying Something' is due for an imminent release and will feature a video with the duo themselves making a cameo appearance!
THOMAS LEER, one of the founding fathers of electronic music in the UK, releases a new album 'Parts Of A Greater Hole' on May 23rd on the Karvavena label. The album, Leer's first for over a decade is described as 'Twisted science, big beats, archive vinyl samples and mad professors all figure in an uncompromising soundtrack that doesn’t pause for breath across 17 tracks'.
SWING OUT SISTER will play a number of US dates in June as part of their upcoming tour to promote their recent album, the excellent 'Where Our Love Grows'.
MIDGE URE, MODERN ROMANCE, THE STRANGLERS, HEAVEN 17, ABC, GO WEST, T'PAU, HOWARD JONES, KAJAGOOGOO and HAZEL O'CONNOR are among the bands who were expected to be on the bill for the upcoming 'Live & Kicking' one-day festival in Usk on July 23rd, however the festival has unfortunately been cancelled due to resistance from local residents although the promotors are still hoping to put on a similar event somewhere else in the UK.
